A very silly question...

maxman · maxman's Garage

Does motor oil have a shelf life.

I've had this case of Brad Penn for about a year now. Getting ready for the spring oil change. Just checking...

Thanks

~Max
(Currently recovering from a clutch pedal return spring installation mishap concussion)

Danny_Ocean · 03-21-2011, 07:38 PM

There more than likely is a shelf life for motor oil, but it's significantly more than one year.

hcoles · 03-21-2011, 07:42 PM

I'll go out on a limb and say probably not.
If you can run it in an engine for 6 months or a year, with all the chemicals and water getting into it....and it is still doing pretty well, I can't see why sitting in a can would be an issue. There are lots of us out here holding BP for a year or more before use, at least I am.

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

got to be > 5 years; as grease has a 5 yr shelf life (or more)

Hotwatermusic · 03-21-2011, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxman

Does motor oil have a shelf life.

I've had this case of Brad Penn for about a year now. Getting ready for the spring oil change. Just checking...

Thanks

~Max
(Currently recovering from a clutch pedal return spring installation mishap concussion)

It sat in the Earth for millions of years, so I'm thinking it can handle a couple more on a shelf.

Brandon-FL · Brandon-FL's Garage

Not sure about BP but from the Mobil 1 website five years.

Shelf Life of Unopened Mobil 1 Quarts

dicklague · dicklague's Garage

NO don't use it......send it to me freight pre-paid and I will get rid of it for you....my pleasure!

RoninLB · 03-21-2011, 09:52 PM

i've seen additives settle out to the bottom on old dino oil plastic cans

Gustyones · Gustyones's Garage

I'd use it...

ivangene · 03-22-2011, 06:04 AM

did they put a date on it somewhere... just because you have had it a year doesnt let you know how long it sat around before you bought it..... no mfg date? all bets are off.... I wouldn't risk it - PM'ing my "ship to" address for ya

sc_rufctr · 03-22-2011, 06:29 AM

If it's sealed and stored on a shelf in a garage I can't see it ever going off regardless of what's on that Mobile one page.
If you concerned about the additives settling to the bottom just mix it up before opening.

According to the manufactures, another thing you should be concerned about is moisture absorption but even this is BS IMO.
As soon as you get oil up to normal operating temp any moisture in it would evaporate away.
But think about it. Oil and water don't mix so how can oil absorb water?
The combustion bye products and gasoline break down oil so that's why we have to change it at regular intervals.
Moisture builds up on the engine internals. So a good run to get everything nice and hot at least once a week is a good idea.

I'm sure a lot of this is simple marketing hype to sell more oil.

This also reminds me of the fill for life coolant from VW. (G12++)
Apparently you can leave it in your cooling system forever but it can't sit on a shelf for more than 5 years.

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

Oil and water are immiscible so the amount of water that a static pool of oil can absorb is low.

zippy_gg · zippy_gg's Garage

The plastic container itself also has a shelf life and when it reaches that stage we start seeing leaky oil containers, especially in hot climate. It is in years, and varies as technology evolves.

80-911SC · 80-911SC's Garage

Recommended oil change for our cars is annually (unless driven alot) so I would figure you can leave it in the engine for a year ... the one year on the shelf couldn't hurt it ....

Steve